Highworth delicatessen Bloomfields fine food has been judged a regional finalist for the South West in Olives Et Al’s Deli of the Year 2012 competition.
The short-listing is a culinary boon for Highworth and Swindon placing it on the "foodie map" of Britain after a hard fought competition with some of the UK’s finest delis.
The competition is organised and run by the Dorset-based artisan food specialists, Olives Et Al, who carefully designed the competition in such a way that it allows every business that enters to showcase itself by engaging with staff, customers and their local community.
More than 300 delis up and down the UK were nominated with more than 12,000 votes cast and only the top 10 delis have made it through as regional winners.
Judges will visit each of the top 10 delis, unannounced and incognito, to see if Bloomfields fine food is to be crowned the Olives Et Al Deli of the Year 2012. When the final decision is made the winning deli will be announced at the Deli of the Year Final in September at the Great Taste Awards gala dinner in London.
Sue Belcher, owner of Bloomfields fine food, said: “We are so excited to be chosen as the top delicatessen in the South West. It’s fantastic to receive recognition not only from the competition judges but also from so many of our lovely customers who voted for us.
"Despite opening at the start of a recession, we feel we have gone from strength to strength because we aim to offer delicious food, great value and good old fashioned personal service. In the face of so much ‘out of town’ competition these days, it’s important to us that people in the community can shop locally for local products. We want to prove that the high street is still alive and eating well.”
Giles Henschel of Olives Et Al, creators and organisers of Deli Of The Year, said: “We are truly delighted for Bloomfields fine food – they have no idea how hard it was for the judges this year to choose the top 10 delis around the UK and they really do deserve this Regional Winner Award. We know how much people love deli food and we know how much work goes into running a deli – so we congratulate Sue Belcher and her dedicated team and wish them the very best of luck for the finals.”
Bloomfields fine food won Swindon Strategic Economic Partnership's 'Swindon New Business of the Year' award in November 2009.
Pictured: Sue Belcher, left, owner of Bloomfields fine food with Carol Forty and Jenny Quinn outside the Highworth shop
